Productivity

How to Multitask Right

Common sense tells us that that if you try to do two things at once, it will take you longer than if you just did them one at a time. That can be true. But we also know that our lives are so fast-paced that if we don’t know how to multitask correctly, we might have to resign ourselves to being the last person at the office every day. That’s why we’ve rounded up the following tips to help you become your most productive self.

Know when to multitask. If you’re multitasking all day, stop now. You’re way better off identifying when multitasking can help you become more productive. What tasks do you put off doing – not because they’re hard, but because they’re boring? Those are the tasks that don’t deserve your undivided attention.

Know when NOT to multitask. Does a certain task require all your focus and concentration? Then it’s probably something that you can’t do while doing something else.

Track your focus. The best way to know when to multitask and when not to is to start tracking how focused you are. If you’re a productivity buff, you probably already keep a log of what you do all day. Measuring how focused you are during certain tasks will help you pinpoint when you can multitask.

Pick the right tasks. An important part of multitasking right is picking tasks that you can do simultaneously. For example, you can brush your teeth while waiting for water to boil. These two tasks can be done at the same time without you having to pause one.

Take turns working on tasks. Maybe you don’t have the kind of to-do list where you can complete one project while you’re waiting for feedback on another. That doesn’t mean you can’t multitask. You just may need to break things down into smaller subtasks and then switch between projects.

Limit yourself. Moderation is key in all parts of your life so this shouldn’t surprise you at all. All energy sources can be depleted – even your cognitive energy. So don’t overload yourself! You’re probably multitasking because you want to be more efficient. But taking on more than you can accomplish isn’t efficient. That just means you’re overwhelmed by your to-do list.

No matter what field you’re in, being able to multitask well will make you an attractive employee and increase your productivity.

Common sense tells us that that if you try to do two things at once, it will take you longer than if you just did them one at a time. That can be true. But we also know that our lives are so fast-paced that if we don’t know how to multitask correctly, we might have to resign ourselves to being the last person at the office every day. That’s why we’ve rounded up the following tips to help you become your most productive self.

Know when to multitask. If you’re multitasking all day, stop now. You’re way better off identifying when multitasking can help you become more productive. What tasks do you put off doing – not because they’re hard, but because they’re boring? Those are the tasks that don’t deserve your undivided attention.

Know when NOT to multitask. Does a certain task require all your focus and concentration? Then it’s probably something that you can’t do while doing something else.

Track your focus. The best way to know when to multitask and when not to is to start tracking how focused you are. If you’re a productivity buff, you probably already keep a log of what you do all day. Measuring how focused you are during certain tasks will help you pinpoint when you can multitask.

Pick the right tasks. An important part of multitasking right is picking tasks that you can do simultaneously. For example, you can brush your teeth while waiting for water to boil. These two tasks can be done at the same time without you having to pause one.

Take turns working on tasks. Maybe you don’t have the kind of to-do list where you can complete one project while you’re waiting for feedback on another. That doesn’t mean you can’t multitask. You just may need to break things down into smaller subtasks and then switch between projects.

Limit yourself. Moderation is key in all parts of your life so this shouldn’t surprise you at all. All energy sources can be depleted – even your cognitive energy. So don’t overload yourself! You’re probably multitasking because you want to be more efficient. But taking on more than you can accomplish isn’t efficient. That just means you’re overwhelmed by your to-do list.

No matter what field you’re in, being able to multitask well will make you an attractive employee and increase your productivity.